Association For Child And Adolescent Mental Health (acamh)

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.15808 In this podcast we speak to Professor Henrik Larsson, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at Orebro University and Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and Editor in Chief of ACAMH’s new journal, JCPP Advances. Henrik talks about his vast experience in authoring, and peer-reviewing papers, what he will bring to the role of Editor in Chief of JCCP Advances, and the importance of comprehensive and transparent reporting. Henrik notes that JCPP Advances will build on the values of its sister publication, the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, has a commitment to open science and discusses its main aims including alleviating the frustrating aspects of the publishing process for authors We also hear his thoughts on what more can be done to promote evidence-based science, the upcoming topics that are coming up that particularly excite him, and what readers can look forward to.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.15780 In this podcast we speak to the head of The Centre for Attention Learning and Memory (CALM) Dr. Joni Holmes, at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge. Joni discusses the main aims of CALM, the research they have conducted, and the implications for identifying children’s mental health needs. Joni draws attention to a shift away from diagnostic centred approaches towards child centred approaches, adding that we need to assess individuals strengths and difficulties, and use those to form interventions. Check out the blog on ‘The Centre for Attention Learning and Memory (CALM) Approach to Neurodevelopmental Research‘.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.15746 We are delighted to have the opportunity to talk to Professor Sally Merry, the Cure Kids Duke Family Chair in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. We talk to Sally about her key research focus which is on e- therapies, and in-depth about the award-winning computerised intervention to help adolescents with depression ‘SPARX’. Sally discusses the effectiveness of digital programmes comparing offline and online, in relation to CBT when it comes to keeping young people engaged. She also explains about the development, implementation, and scalability of these therapies aimed at prevention, and improving outcomes in young people. We also hear how her research is improving the early environment for very young children in families facing social, and economic, challenges, which includes working with Maori families. Plus her important role in teaching and workforce development in the child and adolescent mental health sector, and what more needs to be done to help recruitment and retention.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.15666 The third in our JCPP Advances podcast series that focus on the papers and editors featured in the publication is with Dolapo Adegboye, research associate in the Neurodevelopment Assessment Unit (NDAU) at Cardiff University. Dolapo discusses her paper ‘Understanding why the COVID‐19 pandemic‐related lockdown increases mental health difficulties in vulnerable young children’, including details of the methodology, results and implications of findings. As well, she highlights risk of further deterioration for vulnerable young people, if support systems aren’t put in place in a timely manner.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.15559 The second in our JCPP Advances podcast series that focus on the papers and editors featured in the publication is with Dr. Tanya Poulain and Dr. Mandy Vogel of Leipzig University Hospital for Children & Adolescents. Tanya and Mandy discuss their paper ‘Well‐being and COVID‐19‐related worries of German children and adolescents: A longitudinal study from pre‐COVID to the end of lockdown in Spring 2020’, and the wider implications that the pandemic has had on the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.15518 With the launch of our third journal,  JCPP Advances, we’re bringing you a series of podcasts that focus on the papers and editors featured in the publication. In this podcast we speak to Dr. Bianca Arrhenius, medical doctor from Helsinki, Finland, and PhD student at the University of Turku, who is lead author on the paper ‘Relative Age and Specific Learning Disorder Diagnosis’. Bianca summarises the paper and methodology, the implications of the findings for professionals working in education and in child mental health, and highlights that knowledge of the topic is crucial for educational policymaking. Bianca also discusses whether immature children should start school later than their relatively older peers, whether the school age be should be raised, and the implications of your findings for children and their families.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.15445 We are proud to bring you the third podcast in our series that focuses on Tourettes Syndrome. Dr. Seonaid Anderson will be talking to leading players in the field, rising stars of research, clinicians, and experts by experience. In this podcast we speak to Dr. Tammy Hedderly, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist established and leads the Tics and Neurodevelopmental Movement Service or 'TANDeM service' at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Tammy gives an overview tics, tic disorders and Tourette syndrome are, and the work of the TANDem service. The conversation moves to findings in Tammy's recent paper, in particular, three groups are identified. Firstly, some people, who have tics and tic disorders already, are experiencing an increase in the intensity and frequency since the pandemic started. Secondly, people who may have had very mild tics but because of the situation of the pandemic, potentially led them to meet a threshold for diagnosis for a tic disorder. And finally, a group of adol

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.15155 In this podcast we speak to Blandine French, ESRC DTC PhD student at The Institute of Mental Health Nottingham, looking into the awareness of ADHD in primary care. Blandine was also nominated for the 2020 ACAMH Awards Trainee of the Year. In this fascinating interview Blandine discusses her research on understanding GPs awareness of developmental disorders, such as ADHD, and what the implications are of a lack of awareness within primary care, and its implications for young people and their families. Blandine, who was diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, talks about why early diagnosis and intervention are so important for children and young people with developmental disorders, and the implications if it is not recognised, plus the positives support when it all goes well. Bladine explains about a free psycho-education online tool she has developed for understanding ADHD and the role of the GP in the diagnosis pathway.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14892 We are delighted to have had the opportunity to speak to clinical psychologist Professor Mark Dadds, Director of the Child Behaviour Research Clinic at the University of Sydney, and winner of the 2020 ACAMH Eric Taylor Translation or Research into Practice Award.  It is the translation of research into practice that forms the main part of this interview. Mark discusses some of the intervention programmes that you've developed, many of these are world first. He details a theory driven intervention for children with callous unemotional traits, as well as school based early interventions and also family based programmes to tackle child anxiety. We also discover how he developed a range of assessment devices used globally for routine clinical and research practice such as the Griffith Empathy Measure. We learn that a significant part of Mark's work is understanding inter-parental processes whereby parental systems work together to maximise the child outcomes. Plus he explains how his

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14771 In this podcast we talk to Professor Eva Lloyd OBE, Professor of Early Childhood in the School of Education and Communities at UEL. Eva is also Director of The International Centre for the Study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare (ICMEC). Eva discusses social exclusion and child poverty, what looks and feels like for those who are in it. Why early years provision is treated so differently than to later educational provision in the UK. Eva looks at the history of early years childcare, Sure Start, the marketisation of childcare, and the impact children growing up with disadvantages. Plus Eva looks opening up the debate and influencing policy in relation to childcare, and how the pandemic is impacting on early years childcare.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14629 In this podcast we talk to Professor Anita Thapar, Professor, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University. A researcher and a clinician, Anita is also on the board of the UK national neurodiversity charity ADHD Foundation. Anita talks about the relationship between disorders, such as, ADHD and autism, the elevated risk of later depression, and what is known about the mechanisms behind this association. Anita also looks at what factors may be protective in terms of mitigating the association between neurodevelopmental disorders and youth depression, and how research can impact, or change, the trajectory, from childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, to youth depression.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14570 In this podcast we talk to postdoctoral research fellow Gail Alvares, of the Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia. Gail begins by discussing her recent JCPP paper ‘Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes’. There is also a video abstract on this paper. She then talks about her upcoming research projects including the intolerance of uncertainty for individuals on the spectrum, and why it is so important to follow research with clinical practice.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14528 In this podcast we talk to Professor Cathryn Lewis, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology & Statistics, Head of Department, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London. Cathryn discusses the work of her research group and how determining the polygenic component of mental health disorders can be accurately measured, and how to use genetics to assess people's risk of mental disorder. Cathryn also explains how are polygenic risk scores helpful for child and adolescent mental health professionals, and why should they take an interest in this, and how to translate research into clinical use. More free mental health resources at ww.acamh.org

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14475 In this podcast we talk to Developmental Cognitive Scientist Professor Liz Pellicano, Professor in the Macquarie School of Education at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Liz raises concerns that too much research done in the name of society fails to be of direct use to society. She talks about her commitment to transforming autism science to more accurately reflect autistic people’s day to day lives, and how this in turn might transform the lives of young people with autism. Liz looks at the opportunities is there are for autistic people to play an active role in research, and why this is it so important that autistic people are partners are involved in the research process.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14393 In this podcast we talk to Dr. Carlos Hoyos, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, undergraduate lead for psychiatry at the University of Southampton and ACAMH's 2020 winner of the David Cottrill Education of CAMH Professionals Award. He explains his innovative and creative approaches to enhance and develop skills for current and future child and adolescent mental health professionals, and how it can help students, and CAMHS professionals to get that more experiential, real life experience. We talk to Carlos about his inclusive approach, such as the involvement, engagement with parents, and  and also its benefits this reaps. Carlos also discusses the challenges faced as a CAMHS educator, and ponders on the future for CAMHS more generally in the short, medium and long term.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14288 In this podcast, Dr. Sarah Parry, Clinical Psychologist, researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University, discusses what the term hearing voices means, its prevalence, and its manifestations in childhood and adolescence. This fascinating topic has a dearth of research, and Sarah talks about two of her recent papers, one of which will be discussed in detailed at our FREE virtual journal club ‘CAMHS around the Campfire’ in January, do take a look at what’s on offer. Sarah explains how the condition can be exacerbated by anxiety, the stigmatisation, and explains this relational aspect to voice related distress. There are also a number of excellent suggestions for further information and some valuable insights.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14171 In this podcast, Dr. Zoe Smith, recent ACAMH awards 2020 Winner (Research) Trainee of the Year, talks about sluggish cognitive tempo, ADHD and academic motivation. Zoe tells us how she educates families about the failure cycle, and how they can find solutions for their children with ADHD. Zoe also talks about school-based ADHD interventions, and the importance of culturally responsive interventions for youth with ADHD.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14080 In this podcast, Dr. Praveetha Patalay, Associate Professor for Institute of Education (IOE) at University College London, discusses data sets, the difference between mental health and mental health well-being and school-based interventions. Praveetha also talks about her recent JCPP paper on ‘Prescribing measures: unintended negative consequences of mandating standardized mental health measurement’.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13998 In this podcast, Dr. Aisha Sanober Chachar, recent ACAMH Awards 2020 Winner (Clinical) Trainee of the Year, talks about the many different roles a CAMH professional has, be it researcher, clinician, carer, and even storyteller. Aisha talks about the global dearth in CAMH specialists and the impact for mental well-being of young people, and how to enhance cross-cultural learning to foster a more global approach to child and adolescent mental health. We also learn about Aisha journey as a clinician in Pakistan, Nigeria, and the UK, as well as her thoughts on health disparity, and the disadvantages faced by those populations who have been neglected.

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13891 In this podcast, Dr. Rhonda Boyd, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania and psychologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, talks depression, suicide and culturally appropriate interventions. Rhonda highlights the growing issue of depression and suicide for youth and discusses the most effective interventions for treatment. She also runs through key points from her JCPP paper which explored the association between family history of suicide attempt and neurocognitive functioning in community youth.